Keeping the worms in a bin to work for me, also give me the responsibility to take care of them. The usual thing when taking care of pets.
To keep them alive and healthy, experts are in agreement that the following 5 points are the key to successful worm farming.
- Feed them properly;
- Keep their bedding moist;
- Ensure good airflow within the bin and bedding;
- Keep the bin stored in the right temperature range; and
- Keep the inside of the bin dark (i.e., little to no light).
Feeding
There is a variety of stuff that one can feed the worms. The most popular will be fruit, vegetable scraps and leaves because they provide a good moisture to the bin. Banana skins are a speciality to them. Cardboard boxes - soaked and torn into small pieces, paper, tissues, paper tickets they also love. The worm farm is also a good way to get rid of the coffee grounds and eggshells. An unknown it I did not expect was hair. Clean you hairbrushes feed them to the worms!
The there are those items to not to feed the worms: Any fruit that is very acidic e.g. tomatoes, any fruit from the citrus family, or kiwifruit and some tropical fruits. Onions and garlic are also a no-no. Don’t put protein sources in the bin because it can rot and stink - dairy products, such as cheese, yoghurt, cream, meat and fish. Other no-nos are pasta, bread, buns, cake and spicy food.
Moist Bedding
Worms are 70-90% water and can easily dehydrate. Having a slightly damp, but not too wet, environment is critical to worms’ survival, as critical as us having oxygen. Worms breathe through their skin. They have a mucous substance on their skin that allows oxygen to pass through their skin and into their circulatory system. Without enough moisture, worms will suffocate.
Good Air Flow
There are two areas of concern for good air flow: the bin and the bedding. To aid the flow of air in the worm bin, holes can be drilled in the sides and top of the bin; or cloth (e.g., a towel) can be used as a lid. It also doesn’t take long for the bedding to get compacted, which will prevent good air flow inside the bedding. To remedy this compaction tendency, the bedding should be turned or “fluffed” often. Once or twice a week should suffice, which is about the frequency of their feeding. So, it’s a good time to turn/fluff and moisten the bedding at each feeding.
Temperature
Worms are cold-blooded. This means that they cannot generate their body heat. Worms like temperatures from 15°C to 25°C. Below 10°C and above 30°C may harm them. Keep the farm in an area where the temperature can be maintained. Remember that in nature the worms can burrow down into the ground to escape severe temperatures.
Little to No Light
Worms don’t have eyes, but they’re still sensitive to light. It’s critical to keep their bin dark. They will move away from light. It is a method sometimes used to get the worms out of the castings before using it.
Worms can live 4-8 years when looked after in which time they can produce abundances of offspring.
Sources:
http://www.worm-farm.co.za/worm-farm-care.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Feed-Worm-Farm-Worms
http://yourgardeningfriend.com/2013/01/21/how-to-take-care-of-compost-worms/